Blizzard has reportedly assured fans that, while the company is indeed using machine learning, generative artificial intelligence is not being used to make content for the studio's biggest game, World of Warcraft.
Warcraft franchise director John Hight, in an interview with IGN, states that the company has used machine learning to help do things that people either cannot do or are very cumbersome to do, such as armor fitting for characters.
(Photo: PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images) Microsoft Xbox video games are displayed on a Samsung Electronics Co. Gaming Hub enabled smart TV that does not require a video game console during a media preview ahead of the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) of Las Vegas, Nevada on January 3, 2023.
By using AI, artists who previously had to retrofit the armor for all the various body shapes and horns and big snouts and tails were able to free up their time for more creative work after machine learning was able to cover approximately 90% of the gruesome armor fitting work.
Hight also discussed how advancements in NPC AI have made it possible for WoW to include features like Exile's Reach, a teaching area where new players can experience a dungeon with NPC assistance if they are unfamiliar with how they operate.
Blizzard is also creating a new feature called Delves for The War Within using a similar methodology. All the same, Blizzard is reportedly steering clear of anything generative AI.
Read Also: April Fools: Nintendo Unveils All-New Virtual Boy Pro That Looks Like Apple Vision Pro
WoW Director Assures Artists Over AI
Despite the team's artists' fears that AI would replace them in their employment, Hight tries to reassure both the game's creators and fans by stating that he values the creative process and that WoW does not use generative AI. The business is also attempting to settle any legal disputes arising from generative AI.
Even if Blizzard proves to be cautious, several influential industry people-including Jensen Huang, CEO of NVIDIA-have hinted that AI-generated video games might come to pass. The CEO reportedly believes AI may advance to the point where it can design whole games down to the last pixel.
AI-Generated Video Games
When asked about the chance that gaming will take place in a world where all pixels are made in real-time, as well as his vision for the genre, the NVIDIA CEO recently claimed that AI-generated games are a real possibility in 5 to 10 years.
The CEO believes that eventually, AI technology powered by GPUs may complete the circle and be applied to computer graphics. He explains that an AI-generated game future could emerge within the next ten years, with early attempts possibly coming within five years.
Huang said this as NVIDIA is developing its video game AI technology. The AI chipmaker most famously showed off how video game creators can improve the speech, motion, and voices of their characters by utilizing its "digital human" AI capabilities.
At the 2024 Game Developers Conference (GDC), the tech behemoth debuted a sneak peek of Covert Protocol. The playable tech demo Covert Protocol demonstrates how AI technology can enable non-playable characters (NPCs) to respond to player interactions in real-time and offer a variety of responses that are specifically designed for in-game gaming.
Related Article: Nvidia Unveils AI-Powered NPCs for Video Games at GDC 2024
(Photo: Tech Times)
